Folk hero Shane Lowry is set to announce he’s turning professional at a Dublin city centre hotel on Thursday. But his new manager, Horizon Sports’ Conor Ridge, has rubbished suggestions that the shock Irish Open winner can become an overnight millionaire.
Manager to tour winners Graeme McDowell and Michael Hoey, Ridge said: “I don’t want to sound negative on that but I think a dose of realism is required around here.
No Responses » Shane Lowry was once better known for his scorer’s hut errors than for his successes on the golf course.
But that reputation for self-inflicted misfortune changed a long time before the 3 Irish Open at Baltray, where he produced a performance that not only captured the hearts of sports fans everywhere but showed that this is a golfer who can compete at the very highest level.
Gary Murphy wants to continue his Baltray love affair by grabbing his breakthrough win at the course where he met his wife.
Frustrated that he’s still winless after 236 tour starts, Murphy lives just down the road from the course and confessed that he’s frustrated that he hasn’t joined the Irish tour winning bandwagon.
“Wild Thing” John Daly knows it won’t be a breeze to beat the Baltray wind and grab his first tour win for five years at The 3 Irish Open.
But the two-time major winner, 43, is hoping to continue his hot run of form and claw his way back from the doldrums to become a force again.
European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie will have an extra wild card pick when he attempts to find a side to win back the trophy at Celtic Manor next year.
The Scot got wanted three picks instead of two and got the decision he wanted after a marathon three-hour meeting of the Tournament Players Committee at Irish Open venue Baltray.
Rory McIlroy is looking forward to the “buzz” of the new look 3 Irish Open and his first event on home turf this season. But the lure of European golf is not the only home comfort the Holywood hotshot has on his mind as he heads to Baltray for what he hopes will be a birdie bonanza.